Sports apparatus for covering a user&#39;s mouth

ABSTRACT

A sports apparatus for covering a user&#39;s mouth. Such sports apparatus includes a shield member. A securing device attached at a first end thereof to a back side of the shield member at a predetermined location thereon. A second predetermined end of such securing means is removably securable to a boom microphone arm extending from a user&#39;s audio headset communication apparatus to a space in front of a mouth of such user such that when the shield member is secured to such boom microphone arm such user&#39;s mouth will be entirely hidden by the shield member.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This patent application is related to and claims priority from U.S.Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/865,942 filed Nov. 13, 2006.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates, in general, to sports apparatus and, moreparticularly, this invention relates to a mouth covering sportsapparatus.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Prior to the conception and development of the present invention, noshields have existed to cover the mouths of coaches to prevent othersfrom seeing what plays and what instructions the coaches verbalize.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a sports apparatus for covering a user'smouth. The sports apparatus includes a shield member manufactured from apredetermined material and having a predetermined size and predeterminedshape and a first predetermined thickness. A securing means is attachedat a first end thereof to a back side of such shield member at apredetermined location thereon. A second predetermined end of thesecuring means is removably securable to a boom microphone arm extendingfrom a user's audio headset communication apparatus to a space in frontof a mouth of such user such that when such shield member is secured tosuch boom microphone arm such user's mouth will be entirely hidden bysuch shield member.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of the present invention toprovide an apparatus which will prevent a coach's mouth from being seenas the coach verbalizes instructions to his team.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a convenient wayfor a coach to shield his or her mouth from being seen.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an inventionthat will allow a coach to keep such coach's mouth covered while suchcoach's hands remain free.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide an apparatusto shield a coach's mouth from possible lip-readers while providing asurface upon which advertising may be placed.

In addition to the various objects and advantages of the presentinvention described with some degree of specificity above it should beobvious that additional objects and advantages of the present inventionwill become more readily apparent to those persons who are skilled inthe relevant art from the following more detailed description of theinvention, particularly, when such description is taken in conjunctionwith the attached drawing figures and with the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of a sports apparatus for coveringa user's mouth according to a first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of a sports apparatus for coveringa user's mouth according to a first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of a sports apparatus for coveringa user's mouth according to a first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of a sports apparatus for coveringa user's mouth according to an alternate embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view of a sports apparatus for coveringa user's mouth according to a first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view of a sports apparatus for coveringa user's mouth including an audio headset communication apparatusaccording to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view of a sports apparatus for coveringa user's mouth including an audio headset communication apparatusaccording to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a partial perspective view of a sports apparatus for coveringa user's mouth including an audio headset communication apparatusaccording to one embodiment of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF A PRESENTLY PREFERRED AND VARIOUS ALTERNATIVEEMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Prior to proceeding to the more detailed description of the presentinvention it should be noted that, for the sake of clarity andunderstanding, identical components which have identical functions havebeen identified with identical reference numerals throughout the severalviews illustrated in the drawing figures.

Reference is now made, more particularly, to FIGS. 1-8. Illustratedtherein is a sports apparatus, generally designated 10, for covering auser's mouth 12 during use.

Such sports apparatus 10 includes a shield member 14, manufactured froma predetermined material and having a predetermined size andpredetermined shape and a first predetermined thickness. It is presentlypreferred that such shield member is between about 8 to 12 inches long,between about 1 to 3 inches wide and between about 1/16 to ¼ inchesthick. It is further presently preferred that such first predeterminedmaterial is plastic.

A securing means 16 is attached at a first end 18 thereof to a back side20 of such shield member 14 at a predetermined location 22 thereon.

A second predetermined end 24 of such securing means 16 is removablysecurable to a boom microphone arm 26 extending from a user's audioheadset communication apparatus 28 to a space in front of a mouth 12 ofsuch user 30 such that when such shield member 14 is secured to suchboom microphone arm 26 such user's mouth 12 will be entirely hidden bysuch shield member 14.

In the presently preferred embodiment of the invention, such shieldmember 14 includes a layer of foam backing 32 having a secondpredetermined thickness. The layer of foam backing 32 is preferablyadhesively bonded to a back side 34 of such shield member 14 betweenshield member 14 and securing means 16.

In the presently preferred embodiment of the invention such securingmeans 16 is a spring-loaded clip 36.

It is also presently preferred that such shield member 14 be formed suchthat such shield member 14 is curved so as to be aligned generally tothe contour of such user's face 38.

In the presently preferred embodiment of the invention, the front side40 of such shield member 14 includes advertising.

According to a second embodiment of the invention, as illustrated inFIGS. 6-8, a sports apparatus, generally designated 42, for covering auser's mouth 12 is provided. Such sports apparatus 42 includes an audioheadset communication apparatus 44 which has an arm member 46 rotatablyconnected at a first end 48 thereof to a predetermined location 50 onsuch audio headset communication apparatus 44.

Such arm member 46 is operably connected at a second end 52 thereof to awireless microphone 54. Such second end 52 and such wireless microphone54 extend to a space in front of a user's mouth 12 such that when suchuser 56 verbalizes such wireless microphone 54 will relay suchverbalization to at least one receiving means (not shown) such that aperson using such receiving means hears such verbalization.

Such second embodiment of the invention further includes a shield member58 manufactured from a first predetermined material and having a firstpredetermined size and first predetermined shape and a firstpredetermined thickness. Such shield member 58 is attached on a backside 60 thereof to a predetermined location 62 on such arm member 46such that when such wireless microphone 54 is directly in front of suchuser's mouth 12, such user's mouth 12 will be entirely hidden by suchshield member 58. Such arm member 46 is capable of rotating upward andoutward when such user does not feel the need to cover such user's mouth12 with such shield member 58. In this particular embodiment of theinvention it is preferred that such shield member 58 includes a layer offoam backing 64 adhesively bonded to the back side 60 of such shieldmember 58. It is further preferred that such shield member 58 is formedsuch that such shield member 58 is curved so as to be aligned generallyto the contour of such user's face 38.

While a presently preferred and various alternative embodiments of thepresent invention have been described in sufficient detail above toenable a person skilled in the relevant art to make and use the same itshould be obvious that various other adaptations and modifications canbe envisioned by those persons skilled in such art without departingfrom either the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appendedclaims.

1. A sports apparatus for covering a user's mouth comprising; a. ashield member manufactured from a predetermined material and having apredetermined size and predetermined shape and a first predeterminedthickness; and b. a securing means attached at a first end thereof to aback side of said shield member at a predetermined location thereon, asecond predetermined end of said securing means being removablysecurable to a boom microphone arm extending from a user's audio headsetcommunication apparatus to a space in front of a mouth of such user suchthat when said shield member is secured to such boom microphone arm suchuser's mouth will be entirely hidden by said shield member.
 2. A sportsapparatus for covering a user's mouth, according to claim 1, whereinsaid shield member includes a layer of foam backing having a secondpredetermined thickness, said layer of foam backing being adhesivelybonded to said back side of said shield member between said shieldmember and said securing means.
 3. A sports apparatus for covering auser's mouth, according to claim 1, wherein said securing means is aspring-loaded clip.
 4. A sports apparatus for covering a user's mouth,according to claim 1, wherein said shield member is formed such thatsaid shield member is curved so as to be aligned generally to thecontour of such user's face.
 5. A sports apparatus for covering a user'smouth, according to claim 1, wherein said shield member is between about8 to 12 inches long.
 6. A sports apparatus for covering a user's mouth,according to claim 1, wherein said shield member is between about 1 to 3inches wide.
 7. A sports apparatus for covering a user's mouth,according to claim 1, wherein said shield member is between about 1/16to ¼ inches thick.
 8. A sports apparatus for covering a user's mouth,according to claim 1, wherein said front side of said shield memberincludes advertising.
 9. A sports apparatus for covering a user's mouth,according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined material is plastic.10. A sports apparatus for covering a user's mouth comprising; a. anaudio headset communication apparatus including an arm member rotatablyconnected at a first end thereof to a predetermined location on saidaudio headset communication apparatus, said arm member being operablyconnected at a second end thereof to a wireless microphone, said secondend and said wireless microphone extending to a space in front of auser's mouth such that when such user verbalizes said wirelessmicrophone will relay such verbalization to at least one receiving meanssuch that a person using such receiving means hears such verbalization;and b. a shield member manufactured from a first predetermined materialand having a first predetermined size and first predetermined shape anda first predetermined thickness, such shield member being attached on aback side thereof to a predetermined location on said arm member suchthat when said wireless microphone is directly in front of such user'smouth, such user's mouth will be entirely hidden by said shield member.11. A sports apparatus for covering a user's mouth, according to claim10, wherein said shield member includes a layer of foam adhesivelybonded to a back side of said shield member.
 12. A sports apparatus forcovering a user's mouth, according to claim 10, wherein said shieldmember is formed such that said shield member is curved so as to bealigned generally to the contour of such user's face.